Reel Golf Design

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· AUGUSTA PAR 3-18
· GATOR ALLEY G.L.

   · HEATHLAND DOWNS CC
   · BLACK VALLEY G.C.
   · TPC @ SAWGRASS
   · AUGUSTA PAR 3

   · ABOUT RGD
   · DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
   · RGD's PHOTO GALLERY
   · RGD's CUSTOM OBJECTS

GBC
GBC

MacKenzie's masterful Crystal Downs

Design Philosophy
In one (fairly) brief sentence, RGD's design philosophy is as follows: "A golf course architect should strive to design each hole so that it rewards strategic shotmaking on virtually every stroke, while combining such holes through a diverse routing."

I have been very fortunate, over the last five to six years, to have played a number of highly ranked courses. At nearly all of these courses, I noticed that the following two design characteristics are prevalent on most every hole: (i) strategy and shotmaking are rewarded on nearly every tee and approach shot; and (ii) the green sites of each hole are extremely complex.

This combination forces the golfer to think about the execution of every single shot. The first thing you will notice on a truly well designed course is that it is very obvious that the architect spend hours upon hours designing complex slopes, mounds and depressions in and around every green on the course. The best example I have seen of this is Pinehurst No. 2. Every chip and putt around the green complexes on Ross' No. 2 test both your mental ability and your golfing skills. While noticing the complexity of the green sites is relatively easy, noticing the strategic elements of a golf hole is a more difficult task. I did not truly appreciate this concept until I played a round at Dr. Alister MacKenzie's masterpiece in Northwest Michigan, Crystal Downs. At the Downs, a strategic element has been designed into every hole. Take a look at the photograph above of the 6th hole. Note that, strategically speaking, the best approach to the green is a shot coming in from the right side of the fairway. Clearly, the best way to get to that point from the tee is a fade (i.e., the shotmaking element) which must be steered around the lone tree at the right corner of the dog-leg. To emphasize this route and to add the element of risk, MacKenzie also places a series of bunkers (known as the "scabs") to catch anyone whose execution is not perfect. This is a text book example of a strategic/risk-reward golf hole.